Resurgence of the
Suit
Could it be that the business world is witnessing the
reversal of one of the most highly publicized trends
to sweep through corporate America in recent history?
While the economic boom of the 90s brought several
noted differences in work life, a casual dress style
was certainly one of the most talked about. And
according to a recent article in the Wall Street
Journal, many professionals may be “sick of
all-casual-all-the-time.” That’s right;
suit wearing may be on the rise.
According to the article, this most recent
finding could be blamed on the recent dot-com crash.
“After all, who wants to aspire to T-shirts,
jeans and pink slips?” But don’t worry if
you are one of the many who have embraced the
dress-down attitude, it isn’t time to panic
just yet. While there are many who can’t wait
to embrace this formal trend, nothing is certain.
“Available evidence indicates that sales of
suits are just beginning to recover and have a way to
go before anyone can talk trend.” In fact,
sales of men and women’s suits still
haven’t reached the level they were at in 1998.
So, while there may be something to the emergence of
suit wearing, you will probably get by just fine for
now with what you have in your closet.
Job Security Remains
Optimistic
Layoffs have become increasingly familiar in the
midst of the current “profits recession.”
With low first quarter 2001 earnings and anticipation
of continued earnings pressure in the months ahead,
record layoff announcements are indeed a
reality.
Yet it seems as though these numbers
haven’t stirred American workers’ fears
of losing their jobs. According to a new Gallup poll
conducted the first week in April, 2001, only one out
of 20 workers say they feel it is “very
likely” that they will lose their job in the
next 12 months. This may be due to the fact that
Americans experienced almost a decade of good
economic times and have little experience with what
happens during a recession.
Worker optimism may be useful in understanding
the current economic data that show there has only
been a small drop-off in consumer spending. If
consumers continue to spend in the months ahead, the
current slowdown could be kept from becoming much
worse.
Flex for
Success
It used to be that success in the workplace was
defined by the size of a paycheck. Not so anymore.
According to Businesswire, a recent study by Randstad
Review found the three key elements that drive
employee satisfaction are trust, flexibility and
career mindset.
Ninety-one percent of those surveyed define
true success as being trusted to get the job done.
They value being able to complete a project without
the frustration of micromanagement more than the
fulfillment that may come from money or a
title.
Sixty-seven percent of employees surveyed felt
flexibility was the most important aspect of
workplace success. Most employees have adapted to the
common trend of flexible work schedules. Employees
who have some flexibility in when, where or how they
get their work done are more satisfied with their
jobs.
The study also found that people are extremely
interested in finding a company in which they can
work for a long time and further their career goals.
This is good news for organizations in terms of
commitment and employee loyalty. If managers provide
appropriate training and counseling to help their
employees excel at work, they will have a higher
productivity rate, and consequently, a lower turnover
rate.
Overqualified
for Your Dream Job?
“I’m sorry, you’re overqualified
for this position,” could quite possibly be the
most frustrating words a job-seeker might hear. After
all, is there such a thing?
It is known that managers prefer hiring people
whose pay and experience correlate with the job
description. They fear that if they don’t, the
new employees will get bored with their positions and
leave. But what if you’re tired of the stress
and responsibility that came along with your last
position and want to put your experience to use in a
new environment?
According to the Wall Street Journal, being
told you are overqualified doesn’t necessarily
mean you are over and out. It all comes down to how
you sell yourself in an interview. Career counselors
advise that you should make sure that you’re
the one who brings up the overqualification issue
with your potential employer.
“You have to make the case that
you’re bringing something that’s
hand-in-glove for what they seek,” says Dory
Hollander, a partner at WiseWorkplaces, Arlington,
Va.
Pay is another important issue—mention
that you wouldn’t expect to make as much in a
less demanding position. So, what if a hiring manager
asks about your current paycheck in an initial
interview? “You should say, ‘A lot.
Probably more than you could pay me in this position.
But money is not my top priority,’”
recommends Jack Chapman, a Wilmette, Ill., career
coach.
The job you want is out there—it just
might take a little extra strategic planning to get
it.
May
2001Homepage
My Kingdom
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